Patents by Inventor Thai Q. La

Thai Q. La has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10957500
    Abstract: Systems and methods for selective keyboard backlighting with reduced driver circuitry are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes, inter alia, simultaneously controlling, with a control signal, an output of a first light emitting element that illuminates only one key of a plurality of keys of a keyboard and an output of a second light emitting element that illuminates only one key of the plurality of keys, and maintaining, with a current mirror circuit, uniformity between the output of the first light emitting element and the output of the second light emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro Lara Ascorra, Qian Zhang, Thai Q. La
  • Patent number: 10424446
    Abstract: Keyboard assemblies having reduced thicknesses and methods of forming the same. A keyboard assembly may include a printed circuit board (PCB) and a single membrane sheet adhered directly to the PCB. The single membrane sheet may substantially cover the PCB. The keyboard assembly may also include a group of dome switches coupled directly to the single membrane sheet. Another keyboard assembly may include a group of conductive pads and a group of membrane pads. Each of the group of membrane pads may be adhered directly to a corresponding one of the group of conductive pads. The keyboard assembly may also include a group of dome switches coupled directly to the membrane pads. Each of the group of dome switches may be coupled directly to a corresponding one of the group of membrane pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, Bradford J. Zercoe, Thai Q. La, Robert Y. Cao, Alex J. Lehmann, Dinesh C. Mathew
  • Patent number: 10128064
    Abstract: Keyboard assemblies having reduced thicknesses and methods of forming the same. A keyboard assembly may include a printed circuit board (PCB) and a single membrane sheet adhered directly to the PCB. The single membrane sheet may substantially cover the PCB. The keyboard assembly may also include a group of dome switches coupled directly to the single membrane sheet. Another keyboard assembly may include a group of conductive pads and a group of membrane pads. Each of the group of membrane pads may be adhered directly to a corresponding one of the group of conductive pads. The keyboard assembly may also include a group of dome switches coupled directly to the membrane pads. Each of the group of dome switches may be coupled directly to a corresponding one of the group of membrane pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, Bradford J. Zercoe, Thai Q. La, Robert Y. Cao, Alex J. Lehmann, Dinesh C. Mathew
  • Publication number: 20180019081
    Abstract: Systems and methods for selective keyboard backlighting with reduced driver circuitry are provided. In one example embodiment, a method includes, inter alia, simultaneously controlling, with a control signal, an output of a first light emitting element that illuminates only one key of a plurality of keys of a keyboard and an output of a second light emitting element that illuminates only one key of the plurality of keys, and maintaining, with a current mirror circuit, uniformity between the output of the first light emitting element and the output of the second light emitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Alejandro Lara Ascorra, Qian Zhang, Thai Q. La
  • Publication number: 20160379775
    Abstract: Keyboard assemblies having reduced thicknesses and methods of forming the same. A keyboard assembly may include a printed circuit board (PCB) and a single membrane sheet adhered directly to the PCB. The single membrane sheet may substantially cover the PCB. The keyboard assembly may also include a group of dome switches coupled directly to the single membrane sheet. Another keyboard assembly may include a group of conductive pads and a group of membrane pads. Each of the group of membrane pads may be adhered directly to a corresponding one of the group of conductive pads. The keyboard assembly may also include a group of dome switches coupled directly to the membrane pads. Each of the group of dome switches may be coupled directly to a corresponding one of the group of membrane pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, Bradford J. Zercoe, Thai Q. La, Robert Y. Cao, Alex J. Lehmann, Dinesh C. Mathew
  • Publication number: 20160336128
    Abstract: Keyboard assemblies having reduced thicknesses and methods of forming the same. A keyboard assembly may include a printed circuit board (PCB) and a single membrane sheet adhered directly to the PCB. The single membrane sheet may substantially cover the PCB. The keyboard assembly may also include a group of dome switches coupled directly to the single membrane sheet. Another keyboard assembly may include a group of conductive pads and a group of membrane pads. Each of the group of membrane pads may be adhered directly to a corresponding one of the group of conductive pads. The keyboard assembly may also include a group of dome switches coupled directly to the membrane pads. Each of the group of dome switches may be coupled directly to a corresponding one of the group of membrane pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Craig C. Leong, Bradford J. Zercoe, Thai Q. La, Robert Y. Cao, Alex J. Lehmann, Dinesh C. Mathew
  • Publication number: 20150334799
    Abstract: This application relates to a dynamic lighting circuit for a keyboard of a computing device. The lighting circuit described herein includes several light emitting diode (LED) drivers having multiple channels for controlling multiple LEDs. The lighting circuit also includes an electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM) for storing configuration data for the LED drivers. Each LED is configured to individually illuminate a single key of the keyboard, allowing the lighting circuit to modify the brightness of each key without affecting the brightness of other keys. In this way, more lighting schemes are available for the keyboard, while also providing a thinner mechanical design for the keyboard. Lighting schemes can include illuminating a group or groups of keys at a different brightness level than other keys that are not contained in the group. Additionally, lighting schemes can include animations executed by varying the brightness levels of keys over a period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro Lara ASCORRA, Adam I. PAPAMARCOS, Asif HUSSAIN, Mohammad J. NAVABI-SHIRAZI, Keith J. HENDREN, Thai Q. LA
  • Patent number: 6776497
    Abstract: An illumination system for a computer system. In one exemplary embodiment, a light guide panel has a first end and a second end, wherein lights from a light source enter the light guide panel from the first end and exit through the second end. A light guide tube is coupled to the second end of the light guide panel. The light guide tube captures the lights that exit the second end and reflecting the lights downward illuminating at least a portion of a keyboard of the computer system. The chassis that houses the display assembly includes a plurality of holes created along the top edge of the chassis wherein the lights captured and reflected by the light guide tube exit through the plurality of holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Huppi, Thai Q. La, Walter Joseph Galbraith, Jr.